Gas blanketed clotting instrument



Oct. 8, 1957 w. AUGUST GAS BLANKETED CLOTTING INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 6,1952 INVENTOR. MLL/A/ /"fluaus 7 BY E, I

United States Patent 2,808,833 GAS BLANKETED CLOTTING INSTRUMENT WilliamAugust, Arcadia, Calif., assignor to The Birtcher Corporation, LosAngeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application December 6,1952, Serial No. 324,515 4 Claims. o]. 128303.17)

This invention relates to a clotting instrument.

It has been determined that blood can be coagulated by a high frequencycurrent of given characteristics. Frequently such action takes place inan operating room wherein the air is charged with anesthetic. Since manyanesthetics are explosive, there is considerable danger of an explosionfrom sparks caused by the current carrying instrument.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a highfrequency current carrying member which is electrically insulated fromthe atmosphere.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for envelopingthe operative extremity of the clotting instrument in an inert gas toavoid possible explosion.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a highfrequency current carrying member which is insulated from the atmosphereand enveloped in an inert gas to avoid possible explosion.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the followingdescription:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a clotting instrument embodying thisinvention.

Figure 2 is a section taken along line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the current carrying tube with the gastube in section.

Figure 4 is a section taken along line 44 of Figure l with an insulatingcoating added.

Figure 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of Figure 2 with aninsulating coat added.

The clotting instrument'is in this embodiment in the form of a tubehaving an enlarged head of clotting tool 12 at one extremity. The otherextremity has a flange 14 and a nipple 16. The nipple is corrugated asat 18 adapting same to telescopically receive the flexible tubing 20which is secured thereon by bands 22, which tubing is of a suitableelectrically non-conductive material.

The hollow tubing 20 is at its other extremity connected to a reducedpressure source such as a suitable vacuum pump so that air is drawnthrough the tube 10. An aperture 24 is provided in the tube 10 with asuitable curved finger plate 26 having a corresponding aperture thereinattached to the tube 10. Thus when the aperture 24 is unobstructed nosuction is created at the head 12,

but when the thumb of the user covers the aperture 24 a suction iscreated at the head 12 so that excess blood can be siphoned through theinstrument.

Surrounding the tube 10 adjacent the head bearing extremity is a gastube 26 which has a threaded head 28 thereon. A knurled nut 30 screwsonto the head and packing 32 is a 2 2,808,833 Patented Oct. 8, 1957recting tube 38 directs flow from the tube 34 into gas tube 26.

Spiral teeth 40 are formed 'on the clotting tool tube 10 to insure thatit remains centrally located in gas tube 26 and that flow of gas throughthe gas tubejis unobstructed. The spiral fiutingbetween teeth form gaschannels and impart a rotary motion to the flowing gas insuring no voidsin the gas blanket.

One lead from a high frequency current source is attached to thepatient; The other lead is wire 42 which is inside of tube 34 so it isinsulated from the atmosphere; This wire passes through gas flow.directing'tube 38 and is secured to the clotting tool"tube"10 by meansof sleeve 44.

The instrument with the exception of that portion of the clotting tooltube 10 within gas tube 26 is coated with an electrically non-conductivematerial, such as rubber or the like, to insulate same from theatmosphere avoiding the possibility of a spark causing an explosion.This insulation has not been illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 toavoidcomplication of the drawings. Of course, the head 12 of the clottingtool is not insulated.

In operation, high frequency current is supplied to head 12 through wire42 through suitable control means. Inert gas is directed into gas tube26 from tube 34 and is discharged. at the extremity thereof in the formof an envelope encasinghead 12 and eliminating it as a source of anexplosion causing spark. The head 12 is first incess blood has beendrained in this manner, the high frequency current source is energizedcausing the re maining blood to clot.

While What hereinbefore has been described is the preferred embodimentof this invention, it is readily apparent that alterations andmodifications can be resorted to without departing from the scope ofthis invention, which alterations and modifications are intended to bewithin the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. An electrical clotting instrument of the type adapted to be connectedto a source of high frequency current, a source of inert gas and avacuum source, comprising: a hollow clotting instrument body carrying aclotting member at one extremity, a concentric gas directing membersurrounding said hollow body and terminating short of said clottingmember, means attached to said hollow body directing flow of inert gasfrom said source between said hollow body and said gas directing member,whereby said clotting member is enveloped in .inert gas, means on theclotting instrument body adapted to attach said clotting instrument bodytosaid current source, which means is surrounded by saidgas flowdirecting means, and means on the clotting instrument body adapted toattach said hollow clotting instrument body to said vacuum source.

2. An electrical clotting instrument of the type adapted to be connectedto a source of high frequency current, a source of inert gas and avacuum source, comprising: a suction tube having a clotting tool on theend thereof, a gas tube concentric therewith and terminating before,said clotting tool, means'on said gas tube adapted to attach said gastube to said source of inert gas, whereby gas flows through said tubeand is discharged therefrom enveloping said clotting tool, meanson saidsuction tube adapted toattach said suction tube to said vacuum source,and means on said suction tube adapted to attach said suction tube tosaid source of current. p

3. An electrical clotting instrument of the type adapted to be connectedto a source of high frequency current,

- 3 a 'sgulgce, of inertgas-and a vacuum source; comprising: a t n y n aslettine tee; t e a e qf gas t'ubecbncentric thereii ifli Having an openend adjacent said clotting tool and a closed end before termination fi st en b-e. Mi k nemas n o said gas-tube =5 @12 etc in nt d 1 91111 1 eiclosed enabefars er gas tube and adapted to be connected to said sourceof 15? 5. 15; a. @29 Ti4aP ?S 9. 9 .tik hfid t0. sai Gurrent sourceinside said last mentioned tube connected to said suction tube, meansforming an aperture in said suction tube positioned outside of said gastube, and means on the suction tube adapted to connect the suction tubeto said vacuum source.

Reiereuce Gites! i the-fi e at this pat n UP -1251 31 M52 LATENTQ1,813,902 Bon 2 July 14,1941

2,243,285 Pope May 27, 1941 Switzerland July 15, 1934

